Adjustable handle for bicycles



W. LAMB. ADJUSTABLE HANDLE FOR BIGYGLES,

(No Model.)

N0. 505,273. Patented' Sept. 19, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER LAMB, OF l\IEl\/IPHIS,TENNESSEE.

ADJUSTABLE HANDLE FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 505,273, datedSeptember' 19, 1893.

Application filed May 27, 1893. Serial Nv. 475,770. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER LAMB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Handlesfor Bicycles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a certain improvement, as hereinafter claimed,in bicycle handles of the class in which the handles may be adjusted toraise or lower them by riders without dismounting, to accommodatedifferent riders, facilitate fast riding, and promote the ease andcomfort of riders.

In the accompanying drawings, which show only features needed toillustrate a suitable embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a viewpartly in central vertical section and partly in elevation, portions ofthe handle bar and steering post being broken away. Fig. 2 is a viewpartlyfin elevation, and partly in section on the line 2 of Fig. l,showing different adjustments of the handle bar, parts being slightlymodified in construction. Fig. 3 shows in elevation a portion of thesteering post and attachments thereof, with a modification; and Fig. 4is asection on the linea of' Fig. 3.

A tubular steering post A may be connected downward for a suitabledistance, say four inches, more or less; or if preferred, the post andbearing B at'the top thereof may be made 'in two similar parts-that isto say the post may be split through for its entire length, andafterward suitably brazed or soldered together. The handle bar sectionsare embraced at their abutting inner ends by a detent sleeve E to whichthey are securely attached in suitable way as by brazing, and the handlebar and its rigidly attached detent sleeve having been adjusted in theopened split bearing sleeve B, this sleeve is closed upon the bar andsecurely brazed or soldered along the line of its split so as to snuglysecure the handle bar in the steering post bearing while permitting itto rock vertically or turn therein. Flanged sleeves or collars F Fsecurely attached to the handle bar and snugly embracing the bearing B,while not interfering with the rocking motion of the handle bar,strengthen the connection between the parts. It will be seen that theconnection is such that no endwise movement of the handle bar in itsbearing B of the steering post is possible.

The detent sleeve E firmly secured to the handle bar midway or aboutmidway the length of the bearing is provided with any desired number ofslots e (for which teeth. may be substituted if desired) to be engagedby a suitable detent shown as formed by a bolt G adapted to iit snuglyand slide in its bearing within the steering post. A spring II acts uponthe detent bolt with a tendency to force it upward and to hold itengaged with the detent sleeve by way of the slots of this sleeve.

.The detent bolt may be retracted by means of a suitable slide, such asthe milled sleeve I. This sliding sleeve is connected with the detentbolt G by means of a crosspin or bolt J rigid with the sleeve andpassing through the detent bolt as well as through guide slots lo 7o inthe steering post.

In Fig. 2 the bearing B and top portion of the steering post are shownas formed together separately from the main portion of the steeringpost, the bearing and top portion of the post being split from end toend as indicated at L, and the top portion of the post lirmlysecuredwithin the main portion thereof.

From the above description it will be seen that a strong connection ismade between the steering post and the handlebar, while the handle barmay be rocked into any desired position, the detent bolt being retractedto permit the handle bar to rock, and that by means of the detentdevices which are concealed and protected the handle bar may be firmlylooked in its adjusted position.

To give ready access to the spring l-I and facilitate the replacement ofa weak or broken IOO spring by a new one, the steering post asrepresented in Figs. 3 and 4 is provided with an opening extending halfway around itthrough which a spring may be removed and inserted, whichopening is provided with a suitable detachable cover or lid M, shown asbeveled at top to engage with the opening in the post, and having a lugN at bottom by which to secure it in place by a screw fit.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of the steering postterminating at top in the bearing rigid therewith, the handle barrocking in said bearing and prevented from endwise movement therein, andthe detent devices Within the bearing and steering post for locking thehandle bar in its adjusted position in the bearing, substantially as setforth.

2. The combination of the steering post terminating at top in thebearing rigid therewith, the handle bar rocking in said bearing andprevented from endwise movement therein, the detent sleeve secured tothe handle bar in the bearing, the detent bolt in the steering post, thespring acting on said bolt, and the slide for actuating the bolt,substantially as set forth.

' 3. The combination of the steering post terminating at top in thebearing rigid there- With, the handle bar rocking in said bearing, thedetent devices for locking the handle bar in its adjusted position inthe bearing, and the flanged sleeves or collars ot' the handle barembracing the bearing, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the steering post terminating at top in thebearing rigid therewith, and provided With the opening having adetachable cover, the handle bar rocking in said bearing, and the detentdevices Within the bearing and steering post for locking the handle barin its adjusted position in the bearing, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaftix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WALTER LAMB.

Witnesses:

R. B. MALONE, H. BEAsDoRF.

